Rain brings more flooding and slips

JUST when they thought they were making progress, roading contractors are faced with more flooding and slip areas around the region.
Although the Whanganui River didn't reach its warning alert height of 8m, it did reach 7.6m and was enough to keep Civil Defence on edge.
Wanganui District Council emergency manager Max Benseman said roading issues were now at the fore with contractors now a week behind.
"It's just the fact that the ground, and it's only been a month, is still wet from last time."
The very high level of the Matarawa Stream forced officers to door knock affected Wakefield Street/Ikitara Rd, Wanganui, residents to let them know of an impending flood.
However, as of late yesterday afternoon the rain had stopped and Mr Benseman had high hopes for a dry next few days.
"The weather has moved off to the east now, so we're confident things have settled down."
Stormwater drains were full yesterday afternoon and just couldn't cope with the flow.
In Mangamahu, council infrastructure manager Julian Reweti said, council engineers had planned to check up on progress at the Bailey bridge site but couldn't get through because of road closures.
However, drillers had successfully built piers for a construction platform to stand in the river, to help erect the bridge.
"At the moment it's sitting on the ground and it's in half, so they've built quite a lot."
As of Friday they were on target for an August 18 or 20 completion date, but with this week's rain it may have to be delayed.
Mr Reweti was also concerned that one of the spans of the original Ngaturi Bridge could fall in the river. "That could create a problem," he said.
Te Rimu Rd also had to be closed except for residents in four-wheel-drives. Heavy vehicles were banned until further notice.
The Rangitikei District Council had been monitoring the Hunterville slip, but acting chief executive Dorstan Hayman said the rain had brought no further movement.
Parts of SH3 were reduced to single-lane, at Marybank (south of Wanganui), north of Turakina and north of Kai Iwi.
Kowhai Park, Wanganui, was closed because of surface flooding.